Protective headwear and bodywear

ABSTRACT

In one aspect the invention is directed to a protective member (eg. a headwear or bodywear member) including a plurality of substantially rigid protective panels connected to each other by flexible panel connectors to form a selected shape for wearing by a wearer. In one embodiment, the protective member is in the form of a cap-shaped member and may be an insert that fits in a cap. In another embodiment, the protective member is in the form of a protective vest.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/384,439 filed Sep. 20, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to protective headwear and bodywear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Protective headwear and bodywear protect the heads and bodies of many people including, for example, police officers and soldiers. Typically, the headwear is in the form of a helmet that includes a hard shell member and one or more inner members, such as pads or the like, that assist in fitting the shell to the head of the wearer. Such helmets are helpful in that they offer good protection of the wearer's head, however they suffer many drawbacks. One drawback is that they are typically relatively bulky and so they can be relatively uncomfortable to wear. Another drawback is that they are relatively unfashionable, due in part to their bulkiness. These drawbacks alone inhibit the use of protective headwear in many situations in which it would be advantageous to be worn, such as, for example, during a round of golf so that the wearer's head could be protected from a stray ball. Another drawback is that helmets are often not particularly stable on the wearer's head unless they are stabilized via neck and/or chin straps, which add to their level of discomfort during wearing.

With respect to bodywear, a typical protective garment (eg. a vest) includes panels made from protective material, which are separated from each other by regions of flexible material (eg. cloth) to provide a measure of flexibility to the garment. Such bodywear can have relatively low-breathability particularly in the regions with the protective panels, which adds to their discomfort during wearing, particularly during warmer weather. Furthermore, such bodywear may not necessarily conform well to wearers of different shapes and sizes, as the protective panels are relatively fixed in shape. Furthermore, the regions between the protective panels render the wearer vulnerable to attack.

It would be advantageous to provide protective headwear and bodywear that at least partially address one or more of the above-described problems that exist with prior art protective headwear and bodywear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a protective headwear member including a plurality of substantially rigid protective panels connected to each other by flexible panel connectors to form a cap-shaped member configured to fit on the head of a wearer.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to a protective member for wearing by a wearer, including a plurality of substantially rigid protective panels connected to each other by flexible connectors to form a selected shape. The panels are separated from each other by a gap having a shape that is sufficiently non-linear to prevent the presence of a linear path between an exterior face of the protective member and an interior face of the protective member.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to a protective member for wearing by a wearer, including an exterior first protective layer comprising a plurality of substantially rigid protective first panels connected to each other by flexible first panel connectors to form a selected shape and a second protective layer that is substantially immediately subjacent the first layer comprising a plurality of substantially rigid protective second panels. The first panels and the second panels are positioned to prevent the formation of a linear path between an exterior face of the first layer and an interior face of the second layer.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to a protective member for wearing by a wearer, including a plurality of substantially rigid protective panels connected to each other by flexible panel connectors, wherein each substantially rigid protective member is formed from at least first and second substantially rigid plates and an energy absorbing elastically resilient member sandwiched between the first and second substantially rigid plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective member and a hat in which the member can be used, accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 a is a magnified plan view of a portion of the protective member shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 b is a magnified plan view of a portion of the protective member and the hat shown in FIG. 1 in the region of an adjustment mechanism for the protective member;

FIG. 2 c is a magnified plan view of a portion of the protective member shown in FIG. 1, with an optional layer of padding thereon;

FIG. 3 is a magnified elevation view of a portion of the protective member shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a protective member in the form of a protective vest, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b are plan views of two different direction lines of a projectile relative to a target;

FIG. 6 a is a perspective view of an alternative panel that can be used in the protective members shown in FIGS. 1 and 4;

FIG. 6 b is a sectional view of the alternative panel shown in FIG. 6 a;

FIG. 6 c is a sectional view of another alternative panel that can be used in the protective members shown in FIGS. 1 and 4;

FIG. 6 d is a sectional view of another alternative panel that can be used in the protective members shown in FIGS. 1 and 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a multi-layer protective member in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 a is a sectional view of an alternative panel having an energy absorbing elastically resilient member that can be used in the protective members shown in FIGS. 1 and 4;

FIG. 8 b is a plan view of the panel shown in FIG. 8 a;

FIG. 9 a is a sectional view of an alternative elastically resilient panel that can be used in the protective members shown in FIGS. 1 and 4;

FIG. 9 b is a plan view of the panel shown in FIG. 9 a;

FIG. 10 a is a sectional view of another alternative elastically resilient panel that can be used in the protective members shown in FIGS. 1 and 4;

FIG. 10 b is a plan view of the panel shown in FIG. 10 a;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a portion of a protective member formed form connected portions of the panels shown in FIGS. 8 a and 8 b;

FIG. 12 a is a sectional view of an alternative multi-tiered elastically resilient panel that can be used in the protective members shown in FIGS. 1 and 4; and

FIG. 12 b is a plan view of the panel shown in FIG. 12 a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made to FIG. 1, which shows a protective member 10 that is in the form of a cap-shaped member that is sized and shaped to be inserted into a cap 12. The protective member 10 is made up of a plurality of separate, substantially rigid, protective panels 14, which are connected to each other by flexible panel connectors 16 (FIG. 2). The panel connectors 16 act as hinges and impart flexibility to the protective member 10, so as to permit the protective panels 14 to conform to the shape of the head of the particular person wearing the protective member 10.

The panels 14 may have any suitable shape, and need not all have the same shape or similar shapes to each other. The panels 14 may be made from any suitable material. The shape and size of the panels 14 may be selected depending on the particular application. In general, a larger panel 14 provides greater protection against an impact than a smaller panel 14. This is because a larger panel 14 will spread the impact force from a projectile over a larger area of the wearer's head than a smaller panel. Conversely, smaller panels provide a greater degree of accommodation to heads of different shapes, and could be found to be relatively more comfortable for the wearer. Depending on the intended use for the protective member 10, the sizes of the panels 14 may be selected to be larger or smaller. For example, in embodiments wherein the protective member 10 is to be used by golf players to protect their heads from an impact from a stray golf ball, the protective member 10 may be made from relatively smaller panels 14. In embodiments wherein the protective member 10 is to be used by someone to protect their head from an impact from a bullet or the like, the protective member 10 may be made with larger panels 14.

The material of construction of the panels 14 may be selected to suit the intended use for the panels 14. In some embodiments, the panels 14 may be made from polycarbonate for example. In other embodiments the panels may be made from a composition including polycarbonate and nylon. In yet other embodiments, the panels 14 may be made from a carbon composite. In yet other embodiments, the panels 14 may be made from a metal, such as titanium.

The thickness of the panels 14 may be selected in conjunction with the size and the material of construction for the panels 14. In some exemplary embodiments, wherein the panels 14 are made from polycarbonate and are intended to protect the user from certain types of impact, the panels 14 may be, for example, approximately 1.5 mm thick. In some other embodiments, the panels 14 may be approximately 3 mm thick.

The panel connectors 16 hingeably connect the panels 14 to each other. The panel connectors 16 may be formed in any suitable way. For example, the panel connectors 16 may be made up from a contiguous cap-shaped sheet 18 of flexible material, such as a thin polymeric material, to which all of the panels 14 are joined, thereby forming living hinges between all of the panels 14. The cap-shaped sheet 18, a magnified portion of which is in FIG. 2 a, has an exterior side 20 and an interior side 22. The panels 14 may be joined to the interior side 22. The joining may be by any suitable means, such as by thermal bonding, by use of an adhesive, or by any other suitable means. Alternatively, the sheet 18 could be replaced by some other unitary structure that joins to the panels 14 and provides living hinges between the panels 14.

In another embodiment, the sheet 18 may be a sheet of fabric material which may include pockets configured for receiving one or more of the panels 14. The fabric material may be any suitable material, such as a linked aromatic polyamide long fibre material.

It will be understood that individual connectors 16 could alternatively be provided between the panels 14. It will also be understood that, while a sheet or other unitary structure with living hinges is contemplated to be relatively inexpensive, it is alternatively possible to provide connectors 16 that incorporate mechanical joints (eg. hinge joints).

Air passages 23 may be provided in the protective member 10 between its exterior surface shown at 24 and its interior surface shown at 25 to permit air flow to the wearer and to facilitate the escape of heat and moisture from the head of the wearer. The air passages 23 may be provided in the gaps shown at 21 between adjacent panels 14. Alternatively, or additionally, it is possible to provide the air passages 23 through the panels 14, also shown in

FIG. 2 a, in embodiments where the panels 14 would still be sufficient to protect the wearer from projectiles.

At a point along the edge of the protective member 10, shown at 26 in FIG. 1, there is provided an adjustment mechanism, shown at 27, so that the protective member 10 can accommodate heads of different sizes. The adjustment mechanism 27, shown magnified in FIG. 2 b, may be any suitable type of adjustment mechanism. For example, it may comprise a separation 28 (FIG. 3) extending upwardly from the outer edge 26 of the protective member 10. The separation 28 is defined by a first edge portion 32 having a first edge 34 and a second edge portion 36 having a second edge 38. A hook and loop fastener 40 is provided to removably join the first and second edge portions 32 and 36 together in an overlapping state (see FIG. 2 b) so that there is no gap exposing the wearer's head during use.

Referring to FIG. 2 b, the protective member 10 may join to the cap 12 by any suitable means. For example, a hook and loop fastener 42 may be provided. The hook portion of the hook and loop fastener 42 is shown at 44, and may be provided as a strip that has an adhesive back surface 46. The hook portion 42 may thus be adhered to the exterior surface 24 of the protective member 10. The loop portion of the hook and loop fastener 42 is shown at 50, and may also be provided as a strip that has an adhesive back surface shown at 51. The loop portion 50 may thus be adhered to the interior surface of the cap 12, shown at 52. When it is desired to wear the protective member 10 in the cap 12, the protective member 10 may simply be pushed into the cap 12 so that the hook and loop portions 44 and 50 mate and stick together. When it is desired to wear the cap 12 without the protective member 10, the protective member 10 may be removed. The loop portions 50 which are adhered to the interior surface 52 of the cap 12 are preferably made from relative soft fibres, and so the presence of the loop portions 50 in the cap 12 would not present a significant discomfort to the wearer when the cap 12 is worn without the protective member 10.

In FIGS. 1-3, the protective member 10 is shown in the form of an insert in a cap 12 in order to protect the head of the wearer. Because the insert 10 can optionally be adjustable, and because of the use of a plurality of panels 14, as described above, the insert 10 can be adjusted to suit the heads of different wearers and can be snug-fitting, so that it can be hidden beneath the cap 12 easily without significantly altering the appearance of the cap 12. Furthermore, it can be less prone to falling off the wearer due to its adjustability.

As shown in FIG. 2 c, a padding element 58 may be provided on the interior face, shown at 59, of each panel 14. The padding element 58 may be made from any suitable material, such as cotton wool wadding, or a polymeric foam material. The padding element 58 may assist in facilitating air flow to the wearer's head, and may assist in absorbing impact from the panels 14 when hit by a projectile, and may assist in the general comfort of the wearer when wearing the insert.

It is possible, however, to provide a protective member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, configured for other uses. For example, the protective member may be in the form of a protective vest shown at 60 in FIG. 4, to protect the upper body of the wearer. It will be noted that, by providing panels 14, the vest 60 can be configured to provide protection for certain areas of the wearer that some traditional vests may not protect, such as, for example, the tops of the shoulders of the wearer.

In some situations, it may be desired to protect the wearer against a projectile such as a bullet. In such a situation, there are two optional paths that a bullet may take when fired towards a target. As shown in FIG. 5 a, the bullet, shown at 62, may be fired along a direction line 63 that is generally perpendicular to the target, shown at 64. The target may be, for example, a person. Only a portion of the target 64 is shown in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b. As shown in FIG. 5 b, the bullet 62 may alternatively be fired along a direction line 63 that is at an oblique angle to the target 64. The situation illustrated in FIG. 5 a is perhaps a relatively more common situation.

Reference is made to FIG. 6 a-6 d which shows a plurality of alternative panel configurations that can be used for the protective member 10 (ie. the insert), or the protective member 60 (ie. the vest), and which address one or both of the situations illustrated in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b.

In FIGS. 6 a and 6 b, the panels are shown at 66. As can be seen in FIG. 6 b, the panels 66 overlap one another such that the gap shown at 67 between adjacent panels 66 has two bends in it, and so there is no straight path through the gap 67 at any angle between the exterior side 68 of the panels 66 and the interior side shown at 69. As a result, the wearer is protected at least somewhat from a projectile, such as bullet 62 (FIG. 5 a), regardless of whether the bullet 62 is fired towards the wearer along a direction line as shown in FIG. 5 a or along a direction line shown in FIG. 5 b.

Referring to FIG. 6 c, the panels shown at 70 also overlap one another such that a gap 72 between adjacent panels 70 has two bends in it, wherein the gap 72 does not provide a straight path for a projectile to reach the wearer. As shown in FIG. 6 d, panels 76 are shown, wherein a gap 78 between adjacent panels 76 does not provide a projectile (eg. bullet 62) with a straight path to the wearer when fired along a direction line as shown in FIG. 6 a, however, the gap 78 does provide a straight path for a projectile if the projectile is fired along a particular angle.

It will be noted that the gaps between any of the panels 14, 66, 74 and 76 are preferably selected to be sufficiently small that the projectile against which the protective member 10 or 60 is designed to protect cannot pass into the gap without encountering at least one of the panels that define the gap. In general, the smaller the gap, the greater the amount of panel material is engaged with the projectile to dissipate the energy of the projectile. However, the gap is also preferably wide enough to provide a selected amount of flexibility to the protective member 10 or 60. The particular size that is selected for the gap will depend on various parameters, including, for example, the particular projectile or range of projectiles that the protective member is designed to protect against, and the expected speed and direction of travel of the projectile (or projectiles) when hitting the wearer.

Air passages shown at 80 may be provided through the sheet 79 at the gaps between adjacent panels 66, 74 or 76. To assist air flow through the air passages 80, channels may be provided in the sides of the panels 66, 74 or 76 so that the air passage 80 is not occluded even if there is some contact between the sides of adjacent panels 66, 74 or 76.

Reference is made to FIG. 7, which shows a protective member 81 that is made up of a first layer 82 including first layer panels 83 and a second layer 84 including second layer panels 85, which is subjacent to the first layer 82. As shown in FIG. 7, the protective member 81 is provided with a plurality of air passages 86 which extend from an exterior face 89 of the first layer 82 through to an interior face 90 of the second layer 84. The air passages 86 are sufficiently non-linear to prevent the presence of a linear path between the exterior face 89 and the interior face 90, which therefore prevents the presence of a linear path between the exterior face of the protective member 81 and the interior face of the protective member 81, even if the protective member is made up of further layers in addition to the first and second layers 82 and 84.

The air passages 86 are defined in part by a plurality of first air passages 87 in the first layer and plurality of second air passages 88 in the second layer 84. In some embodiments the air passages 87 and 88 may be offset with each other.

The panels 83 and 85 may be any of the panels described above (eg. panels 14, 66, 74 or 76) depending on the particular application the protective member 81 is being configured for. Panels 14 are shown in FIG. 7.

The first layer panels 83 and the second layer panels 85 are preferably positioned to prevent the formation of a linear path (along the gaps between the panels of each layer) between an exterior face 89 of the first layer 82 and an interior face 90 of the second layer.

The first layer panels 83 are made of a first layer material, and the second layer panels 85 are made up of a second layer material. The first and second layer materials may be the same material (eg. polycarbonate), or they may be different materials (eg. polycarbonate for the first layer, and titanium for the second layer).

In embodiments where a plurality of layers are used, the panels of each layer may be positioned substantially immediately adjacent the panels of the adjacent layer. To assist in maintaining each layer in close proximity to the adjacent layers, the layers may be joined to each other at selected points or substantially over their entire mutually facing areas. For example, a layer of padding may be provided between adjacent layers, such as is shown at 91 in FIG. 7. The layer of padding 91 may be configured with air passages 92 therein to connect the air passages 86 and 88 in adjacent layers.

Padding (not shown) may be provided on the inside face of the panels 85 of the inner layer 84, to analogous effect to the padding 58 described above. The padding that is provided on the panels (eg. panels 85 or the panels 14 shown in FIGS. 1-3) may be in the form of individual elements, as shown at 58 in FIG. 2 c), or in the form of a sheet that covers some or all of the interior faces of all the panels in a particular protective member.

While the protective member 81 is shown in FIG. 7 to be made from two layers 82 and 84, it is alternatively possible to provide a protective member that is made up of 3 or more layers. A plurality of layers permits each layer to be relatively thinner and permits the use of multiple different materials, each of which may be advantageous in its properties when used in a particular layer. In one exemplary embodiment, a protective member may be provided, which is made up of a first, outer layer of polycarbonate, a second layer of titanium, a third layer of polycarbonate, and a fourth, inner layer of titanium or a material that includes titanium.

It will be noted that the protective headwear member 10 may be manufactured and/or adjustable in such a way as to permit its use in other types of hats, such as, for example, tuques.

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b show another alternative panel configuration which utilizes an energy absorbing elastically resilient member. An individual protective panel is shown at 100, with FIG. 8 a being a cross-section of a plan view shown in FIG. 8 b. The panel 100 is constructed from upper and lower sheets or plates 102, 104 that may be constructed from polycarbonate or other materials as discussed above. A corrugated member 106 is installed between the upper and lower plates 102, 104. The corrugated member may be formed from any suitable material such as steel, spring steel, plastic, or a relatively thin layer of polycarbonate. The corrugated member 106 has undulation peaks and valleys 106 a, 106 b which are fastened to the upper and lower plates 102, 104 using any suitable fastening method suitable for the materials at hand such as adhesives, sonic welding, or mechanical fixtures such as rivets. Air passages 103 may also be provided in the plates 102, 104 and through the corrugated member 106 to allow the panel to breath. Preferably, as seen best in FIG. 8 b the fenestrations in the plates 102, 014 and corrugated member 106 that provide the air passages 103 are not aligned with one another so that, for example, openings 103 a in the top plate 102 are off center from the openings 103 b in the bottom plate 104. The corrugated member 106 provides a means for dissipating over a relatively wide area the impact forces arising from a projectile or sharp object that may hit the panel 100.

FIGS. 9 a and 9 b show a variation of the panel configuration which utilizes an energy absorbing elastically resilient member. An individual protective panel is shown at 110, with FIG. 9 a being a cross-section of a plan view shown in FIG. 9 b. The panel 110 is constructed from upper and lower sheets or plates 112, 114 that may be constructed from polycarbonate or other materials as discussed above. A series of interconnected air bladders 116 such as provided by a bubble pad or bubble strips is installed between the upper and lower plates 112, 114. The air bladders 116 may be formed from any suitable material such as rubber or plastic. The air bladders 116 have upper and lower surfaces which are fastened to the upper and lower plates 112, 114 using any suitable fastening method suitable for the materials at hand such as adhesives or sonic welding. Air passages 113 may also be provided in the plates 112, 114 and through the connective portions of the air bladders 116 to allow the panel to breath. Preferably, as seen best in FIG. 9 b fenestrations 113 a in the top plate 112, fenestrations 113 b in the connective portions of the air bladder 116, and fenestrations 113 c in the bottom plate 114 that collectively provide the air passages 103 are not aligned with one another. The air bladders 116 provide a means for dissipating over a relatively wide area the impact forces arising from a projectile or sharp object that may hit the panel 110.

Similarly, FIGS. 10 a and 10 b show another variation of the panel configuration which utilizes an energy absorbing elastically resilient member. An individual protective panel is shown at 120, with FIG. 10 a being a cross-section of a plan view at FIG. 10 b. The panel 120 is constructed from upper and lower sheets or plates 122, 124 that may be constructed from polycarbonate or other materials as discussed above. Springs 126 are installed between the upper and lower plates 122, 124. The springs 126 may be formed from any suitable material such as spring steel or plastic. The springs 126 each have upper and lower ends which are fastened to the upper and lower plates 122, 124 using any suitable fastening method suitable for the materials at hand such as adhesives or sonic welding, although in the most preferred embodiment string is used to fasten the springs. Additionally or alternatively, recesses (not shown) may be provided on or in the inside surfaces of the upper and lower plates 122, 124 with the springs 116 nestled therein and kept in place by positioning the plates 122, 124 so as to compress the springs 126. Air passages 123 may also be provided in the plates to allow the panel 120 to breath. Preferably, as seen best in FIG. 10 b the fenestrations in the plates 122, 124 that provide the air passages 123 are not aligned with one another so that, for example, openings 123 a in the top plate 122 are off center from the openings 123 b in the bottom plate 124. The springs 126 provides a means for dissipating over a relatively wide area the impact forces arising from a projectile or sharp object that may hit the panel 120.

It should also be appreciated from FIGS. 8-10 that the elastically resilient member may form the hinging connective portion of the protective member that allows it to flex and conform to the shape of the wearer. For example, FIG. 11 shows first and second panels 100 a and 100 b interconnected by a common corrugated member 106 that spans both (or more) panels 100.

FIGS. 12 a and 12 b show yet another variation of the panel configuration which utilizes an energy absorbing elastically resilient member. This embodiment uses a three-tiered rigid panel structure with two layers of an elastically resilient member therebetween. More particularly as seen best in FIG. 12 a, an individual multi-tiered panel is shown at 140. The panel 140 has three substantially rigid layers 142, 144, 146. Each substantially rigid layer 142, 144, 146 is formed from rough metal coating 148 (such as titanium) bonded to a backing 150 such as polycarbonate. A first corrugated member 156 is installed between the upper and intermediate layers 142, 144 and a second corrugated member 158 is installed between the intermediate and lower layers 144, 146. Air passages 153 are provided to let the panel 140 breathe. Preferably, the fenestrations in the layers 142, 144, 146 and corrugated members 156, 158 that provide the air passages are not aligned with one another so as to avoid presenting a direct open path through the panel.

While the panels shown in the figures are largely quadrilateral shapes that are substantially planar, they may have any suitable peripheral shape and may have any suitable curvature, depending on the size, type and velocity of the projectiles to be protected against, and depending on the anatomical part of the wearer being protected.

For greater clarity, the sizes of individual panels in a protective member may vary depending on the location on the body in which the panels are positioned. Thus, a particular protective member may have large panels and small panels. Additionally, the panels that make up a particular layer in a protective member (even in a one-layer protective member) may be made from different materials. For example, some panels in a layer may be made from polycarbonate and some panels in that layer may be made from titanium.

While the above description constitutes a plurality of embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the present invention is susceptible to further modification and change without departing from the fair meaning of the accompanying claims. 

1. A protective headwear member, comprising: a plurality of substantially rigid protective panels connected to each other by flexible panel connectors to form a cap-shaped member configured to fit on the head of a wearer.
 2. A protective headwear member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap-shaped member is adjustable in size.
 3. A protective headwear member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cap-shaped member has a peripheral edge and has a separation extending upwardly from the peripheral edge, wherein the separation permits the cap-shaped member to accommodate heads of different sizes.
 4. A protective headwear member as claimed in claim 3, wherein the protective headwear member has a first edge portion and a second edge portion, wherein the first and second edge portions define the separation, and the first and second edge portions are overlappable with each other by a selectable amount over a range of adjustability and are connectable to each other over the range of adjustability.
 5. A protective headwear member as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and second edge portions are overlappable with each other by a selectable amount and are adjustably connectable to each other by a size adjustment connector that includes a hook and look fastener.
 6. A protective headwear member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panels are made from one of titanium, polycarbonate or polycarbonate and nylon.
 7. A protective headwear member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the panel connectors are made from a flexible material that is a living hinge between adjacent panels.
 8. A protective headwear member as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one cap connector positioned on at least one of the panels and is connectable to a cap made from flexible material.
 9. A protective headwear member as claimed in claim 1, wherein each cap connector includes a first cap connector portion mounted to the cap-shaped member and a second cap connector portion mountable to an interior surface of the cap, wherein the first and second cap connector members are removably connectable to each other.
 10. A protective headwear member as claimed in claim 1, wherein each substantially rigid protective panel is formed from at least first and second substantially rigid plates and an energy absorbing elastically resilient member sandwiched between the first and second substantially rigid plates.
 11. A protective member for wearing by a wearer, comprising: a plurality of substantially rigid protective panels connected to each other by flexible connectors to form a selected shape, wherein the panels are separated from each other by a gap, wherein the gap has a shape that is sufficiently non-linear to prevent the presence of a linear path between an exterior face of the protective member and an interior face of the protective member.
 12. A protective member as claimed in claim 11, wherein for at least some of the panels, each protective panel has at least one air-passage therethrough to permit air flow between an exterior surface of the panel to an interior surface of the panel.
 13. A protective member as claimed in claim 11, wherein the gap includes at least two bends.
 14. A protective member as claimed in claim 11, wherein the protective member is in the form of a cap-shaped member.
 15. A protective member as claimed in claim 11, wherein the protective member is in the form of a protective vest.
 16. A protective member as claimed in claim 11, wherein each substantially rigid protective panel is formed from at least first and second substantially rigid plates and an energy absorbing elastically resilient member sandwiched between the first and second substantially rigid plates.
 17. A flexible protective member for wearing by a wearer, comprising: an exterior first protective layer comprising a plurality of substantially rigid protective first panels; and a second protective layer that is substantially immediately subjacent the first layer comprising a plurality of substantially rigid protective second panels, a plurality of flexible panel connectors connecting the panels of the first and second layers together flexibly so as to form a selected shape, wherein the first panels and the second panels are positioned to prevent the formation of a linear path between an exterior face of the first layer and an interior face of the second layer.
 18. A protective member as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second layer is connected to the first layer so as to sufficiently maintain the positions of the first panels and the second panels relative to each other to prevent the formation of a linear path between an exterior face of the first layer and an interior face of the second layer.
 19. A protective member as claimed in claim 17, wherein a plurality of air passages extend between the exterior face of the first layer and the interior face of the second layer and wherein the air passages are sufficiently non-linear to prevent the presence of a linear path between an exterior face of the protective member and an interior face of the protective member.
 20. A protective member as claimed in claim 17, including a an energy absorbing elastically resilient member sandwiched between the first and second substantially rigid panels. 